Trainer Ryan Hill is set to make a strong play for Saturday’s Great Northern Broome Cup (2200m) and he’s doing it with a mare that has just recently joined his stable.
Bellini Miss began her career in Victoria under trainer, Lindsey Smith, spent time with Chris Bieg before transitioning to the west and crossing to Stephen Miller last year.
Bellini Miss, sired by Ghibellines, has recorded seven wins from 39 starts, with two of those victories with Miller and last start three weeks ago, in a Broome Cup warm-up, she ran a solid second to Famous Dain over 1600m at Belmont.
In a wide-open affair with multiple winning hopes in the full field of 14-starters, taking out the 2025 Broome Cup will be no easy affair for Bellini Miss, it poses a triple challenge in a bold move by Hill.
“We’ve only had her for a couple of weeks and then she went straight up north,” Hill said on Tabradio.
“She came in great order and is easy to do anything with.
“Kyra (Yuill) worked her on the beach Thursday and was very happy with her.
“If she handles the dirt, she’s got the form there, doesn’t she."
Hill’s decision to bypass Tuesday’s Broome Sprint (1300m) and instead target the Broome Cup with Bellini Miss is a calculated one.
He hopes it’s proven the right move.
“We were tossing around whether we go to the sprint or the cup,” Hill said.
“The way that track played was so on speed, she wouldn’t have kept up, glad we went the cup.”
Hill says he’s been pleased with how Bellini Miss has adapted to her new surroundings and the unique conditions in Broome.
“When I said to SJ (Miller) I was heading north, he wasn’t sure how she would cope with just being in a stable,” Hill said.
“We’ve got her next to old Chuck A Luck and he’s like an old pro, he’s been everywhere.
“She’s handled it well.”
Bellini Miss has drawn gate two for the Broome Cup, with Victoria Corver booked to ride.
Earlier in race two, Hill says look for Torqued Up to bounce back and be a strong contender in the Nutrien AG Solutions Handicap (1200m).
Julio Santarelli